NELSON Bay’s all conquering women’s rugby team have collected their second piece of sporting silverware in the space of four weeks.
The super-slick Gropers captured the second annual Port Macquarie Invitational Tens title recently to continue the club’s golden start to the 2026 season.
It followed the team’s earlier tournament trophy success at the Crescent Head Rugby Sevens in February – a competition they have won for the past five years.
Nelson Bay dynamo Tanya Jones was the stand out Player of the Tournament at Port Macquarie, engineering a 33-0 victory over the University of Newcastle Seahorses in the championship final at Stuart Park.
The Grand Final triumph capped a memorable tournament for the Gropers women, who chalked up an impressive tally of 179 points while conceding only one five point try to remain undefeated.
Hosted by Port Macquarie Pirates Rugby Club, the Tens tournament attracted more than a dozen men’s and women’s Open senior teams from across NSW.
The Men’s Open Division was won by Maitland Blacks.
Under the guidance of coach Blake Simpson and manager Joel O’Loughlin, the Gropers assembled a powerful women’s squad of 17 players with a mix of youth and experience.
Simpson and O’Loughlin are former Nelson Bay Rugby Premier players and had the girls in tip-top form during the classic one-day event.
Nelson Bay’s championship-winning Tens squad included talented siblings Sierra Nowlan and Leah Nowlan, Chloe Zdebski, Jessica Love, Emma Maher, Sophie Simpson, Jessica Gentle, Emily Harmon, Emjay Walters Virginia Rivas, Ash Vetter, Sara Bottrill, Kristie Lawson, Sophie Lembke, Alicia Weir, Te Whaea Tamihana, Jessica Beam and the elusive Jones.
The Gropers opened their campaign with a 35-5 win over the Manning River Ratz in a seven try romp with Harmon (2), Gentle, Love, Jones, Walters and Bottrill crossing for five pointers.
Nelson Bay’s running rugby formula shone in the team’s second round 35-0 Pool victory over the Kempsey Cannonballs with Gentle (2), Jones (2), Vetter (2) and Lembke among the try scorers before blitzing the Wauchope Thunderbirds 41-0 with Harmon, Gentle and Leah Nowlan each bagging a brace of tries with Jones also dashing over to score and converting.
The skilful Gentle and Harmon added the extras to complete an emphatic win.
In their final Pool match the Gropers prevailed 10-0 against the Seahorses in a tight contest that featured crunching defence from both sides that led to two yellow cards for the Bay.
Nelson Bay upped the tempo in their 25-0 semi final victory over the Port Macquarie Pirates to advance to the trophy decider.
The Groper’ rugged defence led to several turnovers in the rucks plus their strong scrummaging and quick taps never allowed the Pirates into the match.
Harmon (2), Love, Gentle and Vetter continued their try fest in the Grand Final with Emily (2) and Jessica Gentle and Love potting conversions to seal a resounding win.
The Gropers women’s squad also won the traditional boat race against Port Macquarie Pirates after the Finals award presentation.
By Chris KARAS
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